Everest Base Camp Trek with Helicopter Return

Day 1: Arrival in Kathmandu, transfer to hotel; overnight at hotel

Once you arrive at Kathmandu International Airport, you'll be received by our staff and transported to your hotel. After some rest and refreshments, we'll provide you a brief about your upcoming trek to Everest Region. You will be shown the trekking permits and essential gears if any, and at night you will have a welcome dinner of Nepali cuisine heading on your epic mountain adventure the following day.

Day 2: Fly from Kathmandu to Lukla (2,846m) and trek to Phakding (2,610m; 3-4 hrs); overnight at a teahouse

You will begin after dawn to catch an early flight to Lukla. The flight is scenic and thrilling, as you traverse above towering peaks. After about 30 minutes, you will land at the narrow airstrip of the mountainous airport, renowned for its challenging descent. At Lukla you will first have breakfast in the presence of mighty mountains, and then begin the long-awaited trek! As you cross suspension bridges over gushing rivers below, the trail gets lined by lush and beautiful forests. You will walk for around four hours crossing suspension bridges and passing through Sherpa villages before stopping for the night in a lodge in Phakding. The beautiful trail and scenic mountains will contribute to your excitement on the first night as you prepare for the epic trek to the heart of Everest.

Day 3: Trek from Phakding to Namche Bazaar (3,440m, 6-7 hrs); overnight at teahouse

As you begin the trek from Phakding, you will be facing a long day of trek to Namche Bazaar, the destination for today. The actual trekking duration is about seven hours with ample amount of stopovers. The trail is scenic, and at this altitude you will even pass through lush rhododendron forests. The excitement will push you further today where you'll cross high-altitude suspension bridges over Dudhkoshi River, including the famous Hillary Bridge. After crossing Monjo, your trail enters Sagarmatha National Park with breathtaking views of valleys and mountains. After a quick permits-check, you will begin today's final stretch to Namche located at 3,440 metres. The climb is steep, but every inch of the ascent to Namche Bazaar is worth it.

Upon reaching Namche, you will be filled with amazement to have reached this close to the gigantic mountains. You will immediately feel at home in this vibrant old town filled with markets, cafes, lodges, and shops bustling with tourists and locals alike. This is where you will rest for the day soaking in hot water and enjoy high-speed Internet connection. Nearby, you can explore monasteries and stupas if you feel energetic and not worn out by the day's trek. And if the day is clear, you may even catch your first glimpse of some iconic peaks of Everest region.

Day 4: Day of acclimatisation in Namche - Hike to Hotel Everest View (3,880m); overnight at a teahouse

Sleeping this close to the mountains has its own benefits — like having a breakfast with sumptuous views of the giant peaks. As your excitement builds up for the day, you will realise that it's no more walking for the day. All you have to do is relax and enjoy the day in this mountain village with very short hikes for some acclimatisation. Today is also your chance to catch some breath and let your body adjust to the thinner air at this altitude. During the day you can hike up to Hotel Everest View, for jaw-dropping glimpses of Mt. Everest itself. And if time provides you can wander around the shops, check into a bakery or a cafe, and indulge in a treat. Just make sure you do not miss the golden sun setting against the peaks - bringing you a feeling of inspiration and awe! You will suddenly realise that you are in the heart of the Everest region - and your adventure is just getting started.

Day 5: Trek from Namche to Tengboche (3,860m, 5-6 hrs); overnight at a teahouse

As you begin your ascent towards the famous Tengboche village, the anticipation keeps building further. While the air gets thinner and the winding trails might appear less inviting, you should keep your head up and look towards the sky to witness majestic towering peaks. You will see the beautiful Ama Dablam, Everest, Thamsherku, and other mountains — each one with a grandeur of its own.

Approaching closer to Tengboche, you will feel the air swirling with energy. And the views – your heart will be racing, eyes will be gazing, and the regal icy peaks will be looming right above you! This once-in-a-lifetime moment will be more satisfying with views of pine and rhododendron forests gracefully stretching as far as the eyes can see! And at dusk when you step into Tengboche at 3,860 metres, you'll feel the ancient walls, witness monks wearing maroon robes, and feel their deep-echoing chants. Colourful prayer flags will appear fluttering in the breeze as night falls in this isolated village with mighty mountains in its backyard.

Day 6: Trek from Tengboche to Dingboche (4,410m, 5-6 hrs); overnight at a teahouse

The trail to Dingboche is a mix of difficult trekking and breathtaking vistas. Although not overly strenuous, each step appears heavier as the thin air becomes thinner. Sheer willpower will keep your spirits soaring but stopovers will help you catch a breath before you move on. The trek to Dingboche reveals more than rocks and barren trails; it reveals your inner resilience. Respite comes in the views of rhododendron and nival forests, in the shadow of white mountains looming over with their icy crests. This could easily become the hardest walk of your life, or the best one.

Arriving at the tranquil Dingboche you will see that it is nestled at the vicinity of several Himalayan peaks - Ama Dablam, Everest, Lhotse, and Thamsherku among others. The humbling majesty of these peaks cannot be felt immediately but only much later as the night grows darker and your muscles begin to gather rest. In the silence of the night you will understand the isolation of the Himalayas — and you will be left to wonder about the amazing people who call this region their home.

Day 7: Day of acclimatisation in Dingboche - Hike to Nangkartshang Peak (5,080m); overnight at a teahouse

This is a day to capture the awe and wonder of the Himalayas from inside the heart of Khumbu region. As you begin the day in anticipation, it will be comforting to know that today is the day of acclimatisation with very short treks around but not a long trek ahead. You will acclimatise your body today to adapt to thinner air, preparing your body for the journey tomorrow.

You will begin with a light breakfast and mentally prepare for the push to Lobuche, your next stop en route to Everest Base Camp. Today you'll be traversing easy slopes lined with prayer flags and scattered houses. As you trudge along in the breeze, you will see the majestic peaks looking down to you from the heavens. Newer mountains will become visible today as you rest and rejuvenate — preparing for tomorrow with expectations of more beautiful sceneries and stepping one step closer to your destination of Everest Base Camp.

Day 8: Trek from Dingboche to Lobuche (4,940m, 5-6 hrs); overnight at a teahouse

Venturing towards Everest Base Camp, with each step you will feel like you're getting closer to your destination. The rugged charm of Dingboche will be long gone once you arrive at Khumbu River Valley, and before mid-day, and you will find yourself trekking along Khumbu Glacier itself! Along the way you will have mesmerising panoramas of peaks like Ama Dablam and Pumori. And as you trek further with heavy steps along the barren rocky lands and icy glaciers, you will wonder why a trip to Base Camp has to be so trying.

The breakfast of the morning would be a thing of the remote past, as you crave for more energy with every laboured breath. Too many stopovers will make you lag behind your group and too little will make you tired sooner. So, step by step you will have to trudge towards Lobuche. Some grand views of the eternal peaks will be there to solace you as you will hear helicopters flying over the landscape. Amid the tiredness and anticipation, you should pause to reflect on the determination of those who have ventured here before and conquered this land — for with each passing step you take, you will come closer to Lobuche with the promise of shelter and rest for the night.

Day 9: Trek from Lobuche to Everest Base Camp (5,364 m) — back to Gorakshep (5,164 m, 7 hrs); overnight at a teahouse

Today is the day of a life-time experience as you reach Everest Base Camp. You begin immediately after breakfast, going through rugged and rocky trails. As you trek uphill along the Khumbu Glacier, you head towards Gorakshep, barely a hamlet near Everest Base Camp. Sometime late in the morning you will reach Gorakshep, and after a brief rest here, you will hike to Base Camp. This last leg is filled with excitement and too much anticipation because you will certainly be reaching the base of the planet's tallest peak. This is THE iconic peak not just geographically, but in every sense of the world.

At the Base Camp, take some photos and videos, and capture every scene until your cameras die or the batteries run dry. You have been soaked in the shadow of the world's tallest peak, and live the magical moment while you are here. Share the camp with hundreds of other nationalities who have come for the same dream — to make it to Everest!

And as you leave behind the overwhelming awe of the journey, you will forget the hardships of the way. You will be recharged for life. Gradually, you descend towards Gorakshep as the sun sets, taking in the breathtaking views of the surreal landscape — filled with wonder.

Day 10: Hike up to Kalapatthar (5,545m ) - return to Gorakshep - helicopter to Lukla and to Kathmandu; overnight at hotel

Kalapatthar is a vantage point with panoramic views of Everest, Lhotse, and Nuptse. With this in mind trekkers begin before dawn to catch the first rays falling on the mountain peaks. As you gain altitude through this steep climb, you will have surreal views of landscapes nearby, especially the larger-than-life glaciers. After a challenging climb, you'll reach the top where you can have breathtaking views of mountains, glaciers, and beautiful skies. It's a magical and enriching scene in itself! Later as you descend to Gorakshep for breakfast, you'll feel your heart soaring with the beauty you witnessed. Views of great mountains still visible around you, you prepare for your helicopter ride ahead.

After a much-deserved breakfast in Gorakshep, you will take a shared helicopter flight back to Kathmandu. Note that due to altitude restrictions, flights above 4,500 metres may require two shuttles to Lukla. In such cases, you will disembark first at a lower altitude point (like Pheriche) before continuing to Lukla and on to Kathmandu. En route, you will see panoramic views of the Himalayas, the glaciers you trekked a week ago, and beautiful lush valleys.

Day 11: Full-day guided sightseeing in Kathmandu; overnight at hotel

A day sightseeing tour is a good thing to have, after returning from an arduous journey in the difficult terrain of the mountains. There are plenty of places to go in this capital city full of heritage. Although it does not seem like it at first, mainly due to the chaotic traffic and the hullabaloo, there are gems of places hidden inside the valley. Take a vehicle of your choice and stay in the comfort of air-conditioning while you visit places of luxury and pampering. You can go to a premium spa to relieve the muscles and relax, have the much-deserved lunch at a five-star hotel, or simply indulge in shopping. You can also customise a day-trip with us.

Day 12: Departure from Kathmandu

After breakfast or depending upon your flight schedule we will transfer you to the airport. As your plane takes off from the runway in Kathmandu, your journey to Nepal comes to an end for this time — until you decide to visit again for some memorable and soul-searching trip in the Himalayas.